ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the major challenges facing low-income families is obtaining adequate childcare. The availability of and access to childcare are pressing issues facing low-income families. The supply of childcare is especially limited for parents living in low-income and rural neighborhoods, and these parents often lack the ability to transport their children to more distant facilities. Many factors cause such a small percentage of children to receive childcare through subsidies. First, childcare providers often do not receive full reimbursement from subsidies, especially when parents cannot afford required co-payments. Second, parents who do not receive welfare are actually at a disadvantage in obtaining subsidies, because priority is given to families receiving cash assistance and much of the information about subsidy availability is distributed through welfare caseworkers. Finally, administrative barriers such as multiple required office visits and caseworker misinformation add difficulties in acquiring and maintaining eligibility.
